Innu Nation takes feds to court over NCC agreement

Labrador First Nation says land claim process with Southern Inuit group affects their own negotiations

SHESHATSHIU — The Innu Nation is taking the federal government to court.

The indigenous government sent out a news release on Tuesday stating it has applied to federal courts to cancel the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the federal government and the Nunatukavut Community Council (NCC).

“Innu Nation was shocked to hear the announcement by Canada on September 5, 2019 that Canada had entered into an expedited agreement with NCC following just one year of negotiations,” the release states.

“The MOU, if it proceeds, will harm the Innu‘s aboriginal rights — rights that are currently protected under Canada‘s constitution.”

What the Innu Nation is referring to is a step forward in NCC’S land claim process announced in September. The NCC, which represents Southern Inuit, said at the time the MOU helps them establish a framework to negotiate with the federal government.

This will have an impact on the Innu Nation's own land claim process, and cause delays, the release stated.

The Innu Nation alleges the federal government did not follow reasonable due diligence in issuing the MOU with the NCC.

“For example, Canada ignored its own previous research and legal opinion, which had concluded that the NCC 'is a modern political organization that represents people of varying degrees of aboriginal ancestry and not an aboriginal collectivity capable of holding aboriginal rights,’” the release stated.

The federal government and the NCC began negotiations in July 2018 on indigenous rights and self-determination.

The Innu Nation expressed concern in 2018 about the overlapping land claims, with NCC President Todd Russell saying it was common to see this in most parts of Canada and that it would be part of the negotiation process.

The release sent out by the Innu Nation specifically noted that part of the area claimed by the NCC is the community of Sheshatshiu.

“The NCC has claimed land rights throughout most of the Innu land claim area, including the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation Reserve where 2,000 of Innu Nation‘s members reside,” the Innu Nation said. “Innu Nation has been negotiating its own land rights with Canada for four decades.”

The Innu have been asking the federal government since July 2018 about the NCC claim and have not received satisfactory answers to their questions, the release stated.